Common name: FERRUGINOUS HAWK
Scientific name: Buteo regalis
Identifying characteristics:
A large hawk, usually weighing between 3 and 5 pounds. This species shows two distinct color variation. The light morph has a light head streaked with varying degrees of cinnamon-orange with a light breast and upperparts being cinnamon-orange to rust brown(ferruginous). In flight a rufous wrist patch and leg feathers can be seen. Tail is light. The Dark morph is almost entirely brown to deep sepia with a greyish tail. The bill is a dark blueish horn in both colors. Immature birds lack the ruffous markings in both colors.
Range:
The ferruginous hawks' breeding range extends from Central Canada down through the Rocky Mountians into the Texas Panhandle and the northern half of New Mexico. In winter, many of the northern birds move south, going east to East Texas and Oklahoma and as far south as Mexico.
Habitat:
In Texas, the ferruginous hawk is seen most frequently in the northern panhandle where the flat unbroken prarie. This hawk is dependent on the densities of its prey species and therefore where the populations of small rodents and lagomorphs are larger, there will be larger populations of the ferruginous hawk.
Nesting:
Ferruginous hawks typically do not breed their first year. Pairs build a large stick nest where ever the pair has a good view. Ground nests on the tops of hills are not uncommon, or they will nest on haystacks, in trees and on cliff sides as well. Two or three eggs are usually laid (but the ground nest can have more). The young remain in the vicinity of the nest until they can fly, fledging normally occurs between 38 to 50 days. Fledglings as young as 52 days have been known to take prey. They stay in their natal range until they can hunt for themselves(an estimated 10-40 days after fledging).
Feeding habits:
Ferruginous hawks feed on a small selection of large rodents and lagomorphs, the populations of which directly affect the populations of the hawks.
On the Wing Again data:
It is often a victim of hunters and motorist..
Conservation status:
The ferruginous hawk maintians stable populations across most of its territory and has even seen an increase in numbers in the western parts over the past few years.
